NEW legislation being proposed in Florida, US, will see pharmacists plug holes in the State's health workforce through collaborative measures.
Under the proposed legislation qualified pharmacists will be able to test, screen and treat minor health issues, while opening the door to pharmacist prescribing when working with doctors to manage chronic conditions, including asthma and type-2 diabetes, US broadcaster ABC reports.
University of Florida Consultant Pharmacist, Dr Casey Trest, said the measures would allow pharmacists to "prescribe blood pressure medications or anything that the doctor recommends in a normal protocol, as long as it's written out and you're following the protocol like the laws state now".
Trest added that the legislation was likely to continue to expand pharmacists' scope of practice to the point where certain pharmacists will be able to step in to cover gaps in the health system created by a shortage of doctors.
"If the burden can be taken off of the healthcare system the way it is right now especially, then why not utilise it to the full extent that we can," he said.
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